Improvement in door-mats



. Perils` w. Nnnrus, or New YORK, N. Y.

"iMPR'ovEMENT lNgoooR-MA'TS.

Be it known that I, Pnrna W. NEErUs, of

" the city, county, andbtate of New York,

have invented a new and Improved Mat 5 and I dollereby declare thatthe following is a ffull, clear, andpexact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making part of this specication.

The object of this `invention is to makea `matof simple and durable construction, and

which may be readily cleaned without removi ing it from the licor.

Heretofore all mats constructed entirely of India rubber or other elastic material have been provided with thin elastic ribs or ridges on their upper surfaces, arranged to intersect each other and thus formcellsofrectangular or e f any desired pattern; Thethin ribs in such mats are strengthened bythe intersecting ribs, so that they-cannot be broken by sudden` or unusual pressure;` Such mats are, however, very difcult to clean, as the cells "l flllwith dirt, which requires that the. whole mat be lifted and inverted.

To remedy this difculty I have been for e some time engaged inthe construction of l mats in which strips or ridges of elastic material `are secured inplace by strips or hold- .y ing-pieces of wood or metal. The holdingpieces protect, in a` measure, the elastic strips from wear, and such mats can be repaired without great difficulty,and be readily cleaned with a broom. In my experience, however,.I

found thatthe i wood or "metal holding-pieces could, in certain eases, be dispensed with. `The present invention consists of a mat constructed entirely of` India rubber, vulcanized1 or other similar elastic material, and

provided with ribs of triangular or other similar shapedsection, arranged in rows in suchl `manner as to permit the brushing of the dirt l out ofthe ends ofthe grooves between the l v `ribs without moving the mat from its position.

IInthe drawing, Figure 1 represents a plan {view of a mat, A, constructed'in accordance withmyinvention, and placed upon aboard,

dia' rubber, or other similar elastic or semielasticimaterial, and `is provided with a thin base, a, above which rise ribs or ridges, b b, y

preferably of a sectionplike that shawn-via a triangle with a portion of the upper angle removed.; but the shape may be varied, as I 1 consider it essential only that such ridges should be narrow at their tops and have wider bases to prevent them from-being bent over by the fopt beyond the limit of elasticity," and `thereby injuring them permanently. The tops or sides of the ribs may evidently be e rounded or slightly hollowed without varying'the result. These Iribs b b arepreferably arranged in parallel lines, so as to leave grooves between them of uniform width, which grooves-may be of the shape shown, or any modification of the same,

The ribs may alsobe arranged to diverge slightly, especially toward the outer edges of the mat, the only essential condition being that thegrooves between the vridges be continuous either from end to end or side to side of the mat, or from any point on the surface of the mat to one of the edges thereof, so that any `dirt or moisture which may collect in the grooves may be readily swept out at the edges.

In my improved mat, then, I secure the simplicity of construction due to a single piece of material with great durability and efficiency, and superior facilities for cleaning.

The mat may also be screwed or otherwise secured to the licor or step, if desired, and loss by theft prevented. f Y

I do not claim, broadly, a corrugated piece of vulcanized India rubber, for such a device has been used before for a diiferent purpose not at all analogous to mine, and requiring a difference in construction and relative operation; but

What I do claim as my invention, and de# sire to secure by Letters latent, is-

A new article of .manufacture of a mat constructed of a single piece of vulcanized India rubber or other similar elastic material, and provided with ribs of triangular or other similar-shaped section, arranged with separating-grooves leading to and running -out at the edges of the mat in such manner as to permit the cleaning of the same without removing it from itsposition, substantially as shown and described.`

rnrna w. nnnrus.

Witnesses:

" T., B. BEEGHER,

Gnus. E. EMERY. 

